Humorous image showing a massive, futuristic scale sitting uncomfortably on a tiny therapy chair, receiving counseling from a small, wise old man. The scene is surreal and detailed

A scale worker came to the new lab. He fixed damaged measuring machines there. This special scale was truly sad. It always showed very high numbers. The machine felt bad about its job. It felt that it was too large. It asked for a very strange fix. The scale wanted its own big diet. The worker could not understand this. He looked at the machine’s big body. The scale was physically quite wide. It measured many heavy rockets. The scale’s program worked correctly. It simply needed a better mind. The worker gave it simple advice. He said size was a real strength. The scale stopped feeling upset. It accepted its important job. The heavy scale began its work. It measured space weight with new joy.

Story vocabulary and Phrase

  • Worker (n.) : A person who does a job with their hands or mind.
  • Damaged (adj.) : Something that is broken or hurt and needs a fix.
  • Truly (adv.) : In a real or sincere way; it means “very much.”
  • Strange (adj.) : Not normal or usual; something that is surprising.
  • Real strength (n. phrase) : A true and powerful quality or ability that a person has.

Exercise: True or False?

Read the story carefully and decide if the following statements are True or False.

  1. The scale worker usually repairs things in the future lab.
  2. The measuring machine was sad because it always showed small numbers.
  3. The scale thought that its large size was a good thing at first.
  4. The worker checked the machine’s body because the code was broken.
  5. In the end, the heavy scale happily accepted its job to measure space weight.

Answers

  1. False. The worker came to the new lab, meaning he just arrived for this job.
  2. False. It showed very high numbers, which made the machine feel sad.
  3. False. The machine felt bad about its job and worried about its size.
  4. False. The scale’s program worked correctly; the worker checked the shell.
  5. True. The scale accepted its important job and worked with new joy.

Let’s talk about it!

Let’s discuss the story’s themes. Use the “Answer Tip” to help you start your sentences.

  • If a machine could talk, what strange advice would it give you?
    Simple Answer Tip: “The coffee machine would say to me, ‘You must rest now.’”
  • The scale found its real strength. What is your own real strength at work?
    Simple Answer Tip: “I think my real strength is being very patient.”
  • In the future, what everyday machine will be the hardest to fix?
    Simple Answer Tip: “I think a broken smart toaster will be hardest.”